1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Zoot Suit. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” Zoot Suit is a Chicano film that incorporateshistory, social atmosphere, culture, and racial interaction of Los Angeles in the 1940’s.This time period consisted of World War 2 and Zoot Suit Riots. Main characters in the play fight for their rights and justice for the Chicano population. Some important characters are Henry Reyna, the leader of the 38th Street Gang, Alice Bloomfield, a reporter who advocates for Chicanos and speaks out against the unlawfulness of the 38th street gang conviction, andGeorge Shearer, the principal lawyer involved in the legal defense of the 38th Street Gang. Henry Reyna, his girlfriend Della, and his gang go to the Williams' Ranch in order to have a good time, however, is mistaken for the Downey Gang that harassed them earlier. In the midst of the brawl, Henry and the gang didn't realize Jesse Williams, a member of the Williams, was murdered. One dramatic action scene is when they get arrested and the entire gang gets put in jail for a crime they didn't commit.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? The intrusion of the play is when the 38th Street Gang gets sentenced and wrongfully convicted of "their" crime. Each member is separated from their family and riots begin to arise in favor of releasing the boys and fair treatment for the Pachuco community.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? These events take place in the 1940's because of the discrimination and injustice that was present during that time. During the 1940's, a mass migration took place, and although most came over legally, society did not welcome them. It was difficult for Chicanos to acclimate to the United States living and segregation among the majority groups forced many Chicanos to band together and rebel against the majority that discriminated, disrespected and singled them out. This is why in the play, Henry is so against white people. His hatred assimilated from the hatred he was receiving.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will the 38th street gang get convicted of first-degree murder? Will the Chicano community receive justice?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles. Henry is conflicted with society, society has a perception of him that does not favor him. Society views the Chicano people as rough and violent criminals, they stereotype each person who looks Spanish and does their best to keep them off the streets without consideration of that individual person.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one. Alice and Henry kissed Henry was beaten by the Downey gang The 38th Street Gang is found guilty of murder
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) 1. Newspapers; dramatize conflicts and portray the Chicano people as negative, violent people 2. Zoot Suit; exemplify the Chicano culture and style; unifies the Chicano people 3. El Pachuco; represents confidence and pride in Chicano culture
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit. Culture Clash Discrimination Racial Profiling Oppression
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit? Family was not represented in its usual form, the family represented in the play was not related by blood, however, related by culture. Discrimination was so strong the Chicanos banned together and created a stronger bond within their culture in order to handle the difficult issues of the time period. They stayed strong for each other and for their blood-related families in order to create a better life in a world that did not accept them.
Zoot Suit is a Chicano film that incorporates history, social atmosphere, culture, and racial interaction of Los Angeles in the 1940’s. This time period consisted of World War 2 and Zoot Suit Riots. Main characters in the play fight for their rights and justice for the Chicano population. Some important characters are Henry Reyna, the leader of the 38th Street Gang, Alice Bloomfield, a reporter who advocates for Chicanos and speaks out against the unlawfulness of the 38th street gang conviction, and George Shearer, the principal lawyer involved in the legal defense of the 38th Street Gang. Henry Reyna, his girlfriend Della, and his gang go to the Williams' Ranch in order to have a good time, however, is mistaken for the Downey Gang that harassed them earlier. In the midst of the brawl, Henry and the gang didn't realize Jesse Williams, a member of the Williams, was murdered. One dramatic action scene is when they get arrested and the entire gang gets put in jail for a crime they didn't commit.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion of the play is when the 38th Street Gang gets sentenced and wrongfully convicted of "their" crime. Each member is separated from their family and riots begin to arise in favor of releasing the boys and fair treatment for the Pachuco community.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
These events take place in the 1940's because of the discrimination and injustice that was present during that time. During the 1940's, a mass migration took place, and although most came over legally, society did not welcome them. It was difficult for Chicanos to acclimate to the United States living and segregation among the majority groups forced many Chicanos to band together and rebel against the majority that discriminated, disrespected and singled them out. This is why in the play, Henry is so against white people. His hatred assimilated from the hatred he was receiving.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will the 38th street gang get convicted of first-degree murder?
Will the Chicano community receive justice?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a charcter. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Henry is conflicted with society, society has a perception of him that does not favor him. Society views the Chicano people as rough and violent criminals, they stereotype each person who looks Spanish and does their best to keep them off the streets without consideration of that individual person.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
Alice and Henry kissed
Henry was beaten by the Downey gang
The 38th Street Gang is found guilty of murder
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. Newspapers; dramatize conflicts and portray the Chicano people as negative, violent people
2. Zoot Suit; exemplify the Chicano culture and style; unifies the Chicano people
3. El Pachuco; represents confidence and pride in Chicano culture
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
Culture Clash
Discrimination
Racial Profiling
Oppression
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
Family was not represented in its usual form, the family represented in the play was not related by blood, however, related by culture. Discrimination was so strong the Chicanos banned together and created a stronger bond within their culture in order to handle the difficult issues of the time period. They stayed strong for each other and for their blood-related families in order to create a better life in a world that did not accept them.